Wheel Nuts & Wheel Bolts

Safety comes first – especially on the road. Reliability is particularly crucial when it comes to parts that are under constant stress and that directly affect driving stability. This certainly includes the wheels and their mountings. Drivers may be familiar with the windshield stickers reminding them to have the wheel nuts or bolts retorqued 50 kilometers after a wheel change.

Alloy wheels that are properly mounted with the right torque will not usually loosen in the course of normal use. Mistakes can occur in the workshop, however, and a mounting part may accidentally be insufficiently tightened. It is also possible for dirt to get in between the flange and wheel hub or between the wheel rim and the nut or bolt head, which can cause a small degree of loosening when it falls out.

Don’t worry, the wheel will not immediately fall off just because one mounting part is not quite fully tightened. It’s possible you may notice a thumping or tapping sound when driving. This is an urgent signal to stop the car and check the mounting parts. Any loose components must then be retightened.

To check and tighten the mounting parts, park the car in a freely accessible spot, shift into first gear, and pull the parking brake. The recommended tool for this is a torque wrench. Nuts and bolts should not be retightened in circular order, but always in a criss-cross pattern. It is important to achieve the proper torque as listed in the owner’s manual or, in the case of accessory wheels, on the wheel certificate.

For safe driving, we recommend checking the wheel bolts and retorquing them as needed following a wheel change and after a certain period of use. If your wheels are changed often or if you notice visible defects such as rust or thread damage, it is also advisable to replace the wheel bolts with new ones from a specialized dealer or workshop. After all, safety comes first!